Target-throwing trap.



No. 806,663. PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905. F. HARDY.

TARGET THROWING TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N9. 806,663. PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905.

F. HARDY.

TARGET THROWING TRAP. APPLIO'ATION PILEI no.4, 1903,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATBNT ED DEC. 5, 1905.

F. HARDY. TARGET THROWING TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1903.

3. SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK HARDY, OF MOUNTPLEASANT, TENNESSEE.

TARGET-THROWING TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

Application filed December a, 1903. gerial. No. 183,778.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HARDY, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Mountpleasant, in the county of Maury and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Throwing Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides improvements in the class of apparatus known as targetthrowing traps involving the use of a magazine for holding the targets, which are usually disks, clay pigeons, or the like, aiming more especially to provide a'novel construction of mechanism for rapid delivery of targets and for releasing the targets from the magazinehopper. The trap embodies the use of a pivoted thrower-arm which is actuated by peculiar operating mechanism and which carries the peculiar form of retarder means for preventing discharge of the target or targets from the holder upon. the thrower-arm until the latter has reached an ascertained point in its movement. The combination of the mechanism is such that the operation of a single levercauses actuation of the thrower-arm, which automatically discharges the target as soon as it reaches a predetermined position,

and at the same time the operating-lever actu ates two sets of target-retainer devices carried by the magazine and by which the feed from the magazine is regulated to effect delivery movement of the targets therein.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of themeans for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

hile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the essential parts of the apparatus in working position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the throwing-arm extended at a certain point in its revolution and also showing particularly the construction of the latch and spring buffer. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. & is a bottom view of the head of the adjustable supporting-arm, showing the arrangement of the target supporting and retarder devices. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the supporting means of the supporting and throwing arms. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the receiving end of the throwing-arm. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the removable sleeve upon which the throwing-arm is mounted. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the magazine end of the supportingarm, clearly showing the disposition of the latch and retarder devices. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a slightly-modified form of apparatus. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the magazine end of the supporting-arm used in the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner of supporting the throwing-arm in the modification.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The apparatus is suitably placed upon the practice'grounds and consists of the base 1, having the upwardly-projected standard 2 disposed thereon. The standard 2 is provided with a plate 3, having its inner face provided with a plurality of teeth diverging from a central point or opening in the plate. A supporting arm or frame 4 is also provided with a toothed plate 5 of a form corresponding to the plate 3, and a fastening device 6 is passed through the corresponding openings in the plates and is adapted to hold the toothed faces of the plates in engaging relation, so as to fix the elevation of the supporting-arm 4, this elevation depending upon the height to which it is desired to throw the target. The supporting-arm 4 is provided with a head 7,which carries the magazine-hopper 8. The head 7 is of approximately circular form, being provided with an opening 9, through which the targets pass from the magazine to the holder 10, disposed upon the end'of the throwingarm 11. The throwing-arm 11 is pivotally mounted upon the supporting-arm a at a point adjacent the plate 5, by which said supporting-arm is adjusted to the proper elevation. Below the throwing-arm and mounted for rotary movement upon the sleeve 25, by which the throwing-arm is secured to the supporting-arm, is a collar 13, which is operable by a lever 14, connected thereto by a connectingrod 15. The collar 13 is provided upon its periphery with a cam 16, which is adapted to cooperate with the retarder-bar 17, which re- IIO from the holder.

ed for a rotary movement, as before premised, in discharging the target from its holder, the arm making an entire revolution when discharging the target. The targets are held within the holder 10 of the throwing-arm by means of pawls 18, which are actuated by the retarder-bar 17, so as to normally engage the targets to prevent displacement of the same A spring 19, adjacent the retarder-bar 17, normally holds the said bar retracted to cause engagement of the pawls 18 with the targets in the holder. The end 21 of the retarder-bar adjacent the point of pivotal support 12 of the thrower-arm extends downwardly, passing into a recess 20, and extends below the arm 11 proximate the periphery of the collar 13, constituting the means for discharging the target from the holder upon the thrower-arm, the said extension 21 riding into engagement with the cam, causing a longitudinal movement of the retarderbar away from the holder, thereby actuating the pawls 18, so as to cause the same to move out of engagement with the targets and permit discharge of the same from the throwerarm by the projectile force given by the rotating movement of the arm 11. Partial rotation of the collar 13 by means of the lever 14 varies the position of the cam 16 in such a manner that the point of discharge of the target within the holder 10 may be correspondingly varied, according to the desire of the operator of the apparatus, the lever 14: being limited in its movement by a stop 22: The position of the lever may thus be adjusted-so as to dispose the cam element 16 upon the collar 13 in such a position that the targets will be thrown to the right quarter, left quarter, straight away, or any intermediate direction at the option of the operator, neither the shooter nor the puller being able to predict the direction in which the targets will be thrown. I

The means for varying the direction of the discharge of the target, as above described, is essentially advantageous in that the skill of the shooter is greatly promoted, enabling him to cope more readily with actual conditions arising while pursuing the sport of shooting at live targets under any conditions.

The pawls 18, though separate elements, are of integral formation and are therefore simultaneously operated. However, one of the pawls is shorter than the other, so that the target engaged thereby will be released before the target which is held by the longer pawl. The holder 10 is adapted for reception of two targets, and thus the apparatus may be used to throw doubles or two targets simultaneously, if desired. To support two targets, the holder is made of special construction, being provided with two sets of ways 23, located one above the other. An

opening in the rear end of the holder 10, forming an unobstructed rear feed therefor,

leads to the lowermost way, and a target is passed by the operator of the apparatus through this opening into the holder 10 preparatory to operation of the throwing-arm.

The target which rests upon the uppermost ways is delivered from the magazine 8 by means of devices hereinafter to be described. The respective pawls 18, which engage the targets, are of course adjacent the respective ways 23, before described. The holder 10 is several times the length of the targets re ceived thereby, so that as the targets pass therefrom the frictional engagement of the sides of the targets in the ways 23 of the holder will give the said targets a twisting or spinning movement in the delivery. The throwing-arm is mounted upon the pivot-pin 12, being secured to the upper threaded portion 2& of a sleeve 25, which is mounted on the pin 12 concentrically. The sleeve 25 is provided with a central flange 26, which is notched, as shown at 27. The lower portion of the sleeve is reduced, and an actuating member consisting of a rotatable collar 28 is mounted upon the reduced portion of the sleeve resting upon the upper portion of the supporting-arm 4. The actuating member 28 has pivoted thereto an engaging dog 29, which cooperates with the notch 27 of the flange 26 in the initial operation of the apparatus. As before described, the member 28 is freely movable, and the said member is connected to a spring 32, which is connected, by means of an operating-cord 30, to a lever 31. Movement of the lever 31 in the proper direction increases the tension of the spring 32, and this tension because of the engaging relation of the dog 29 with the sleeve of the throwing-arm serves to actuate the throwingarm when same is released upon operation of the latch 33, which is pivoted to the supporting-arm 4 adjacent the end carrying the head 7. The latch 33 is pivoted to the arm by means of a pin 34 and is actuated by the main operating-lever in its movement. A button 35, secured to the cord 30, strikes the free end of thelatch when the lever is moved to increase the tension of the spring 32, and the latch is thus disengaged from a projection 36 upon the under side of the holder 10, thereby releasing the throwing-arm. The latch 33 is provided upon its free end with a downward extension 37, through which the operating-cord 30 passes and which is struck by the button on movement of the lever 31.

The throwing-arm 11 is designed to make a complete revolution in discharging a target or targets, and in order to check the movement of the arm at the end of asingle revolution it is desirable to provide stop means in the form of a spring-buffer 38, which is carried by a pivoted arm 39, supported upon the supporting-arm L, adjacent the latch 33. The buffer-arm 39 is provided with a downward extension 10, similar to the extension .37 of 3 0 the latch, and a link 41 connects the two extensions 37 and 40, so that the buffer-arm may be operated by the latch 33 when the latter reaches a predetermined point in its movement. The buffer 38 is mounted in the tubular portion 42 of the buffer-arm 39 and consists of a spring-actuated member adapted to be engaged bya stop 43, extended from the under side of the holder 10 of the throwingarm 11. In order that the throwing-arm may be released in discharging a target, it is necessary that the buffer 38 be thrown out of the path of the stop 43 immediately before actuation of the throwing-arm and thrown into the path of the stop before the throwing-arm is at the end of its revolution, so as to perform its proper function in limiting the movement of the throwing-arm. For the above purpose the link 41 is provided, and this link is connected to the projection 40 of the bufferarm 39 by a pin-and-slot connection 44. The buffer 38 when the throwing-arm is in its normal position below the delivery end of the magazine 8 is disposed out of the path of the stop 43, and upon operation of the lever 31 the tension of the spring 32 is increased and the button 35, striking the latch, moves the same; but because of the pin-and-slot connection the buffer-arm is not actuated until the latch has released the throwing-arm, at which time the link 41 actuates the buffer-arm, and as the throwing-arm 11 reaches the end of its revolution in discharge of the targets the stop 43 strikes the buffer which has been disposed in the path of movement of the said stop. To prevent rebound of the throwing-arm after striking the buffer and to hold the arm in position until the dog 29 engages the notch 27, the under side of the stop 43 is toothed and a spring-plate 45 engages the toothed portion of the stop, preventing the rebound of the throwing-arm in a manner very clearly seen.

To hold the actuating member 28 in such a position that the engagingdog 29 will engage the notch 27 after operation of the lever 31, a light spring 46 connects said member with an extension 47, projected rearwardly from the supporting-arm 4 of the apparatus,

The targets are fed into the magazine 8 as the same are discharged, and special means are provided for insuring a continuous automatic feed of the said targets. For this purpose supporting-dogs 48 are pivotally mounted beneath the head 7, a spring 49 normally holding the said dogs in the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 4 of the drawings. One of'the dogs 48 is provided with a rear cam extension 49, which when actuated throws the dogs outward and permits the lowermost target, which is supported by the dogs, to drop into the holder 10 upon the throwing-arm 11. While the spring-dogs 48 are moved apart to permit dropping of a target from the magazine, the target immediately above the target 1 which has been supported by the spring-dogs 48 is clamped or held by means of an engaging tion will be termed a detent member 50, pivoted to the head 7 above the supportingdogs 48. The detent member 50 may be provided upon its engaging face with any suitable friction material, so as to insure a per feet gripping action thereof, and the said member normally engages the target designated above, being actuated so as to release this target by means of a spring-retracted bar 51, which is curved at its outermost portion and secured to the detent member, so that upon actuation of the bar 51 the member 50 releases the target engaged thereby and permits same to drop to the supporting-dogs 48 ready to bedelivered to the holder 10 of the throwing-arm 11 upon operation of the proper mechanism. Projected from the under side of the throwing-arm 11 is a lug 36, which is engaged by the latch 33, the said latch thereby normally holding the throwing-arm in a position with the holder 10, adjacent the head 7 and the magazine 8, which supplies the targets thereto. A spring 53 normally holds the latch 33 in engagement with the lug 36.

In the operation of the apparatus the lever 31 is actuated in the direction indicated by the arrow at, and this movement increases the tension of the spring 32, and the button 35 striking the latch 33 throws same out of engagement with the lug 36, releasing the throwing-arm 11, which is actuated under the tension of the spring, as before described. At a certain point in the movement of the latch 33 the buffer-arm 39 is moved so as to dispose the buffer 38 in the path of the stop 43. At a predetermined point in the revolution ofthe throwing-arm 11, dependent upon the position of the cam-collar 13, the targets are discharged either in singles or doubles and after discharge of the targets the revolution of the arm 11 is completed, said arm striking the buifer 38 at the end of its movement. The actuating member 28, which has been moved in theinitial movement of the throwing-arm, is returned to its normal position by the light coil-spring 46, and the lever 31 is likewise disposed in its normal position by this movement. The spring-retracted bar 51 is actuated by the downward extension 40 of the buffer-arm 39, so that when the bufferarm is moved by means of its link connection 41 with the latch, the bar 51 is simultaneously actuated to throw the detent member 50 out of engagement with the uppermost targets, and this permits delivery of a target in position upon the supporting-dogs 48 at the same time the throwing-arm is actuated in its discharge movement. As the throwing-arm 11 IIC dropped upon the dogs 48.

the same actuator is utilized for effecting discharge movement of the throwing-arm and operating the detent member 50. This construction simplifiesthe number of operating parts and utilizes a single member for effecting the several functions set forth, this being of no small advantage in securing a practical device of the class to which my invention relates. It will also be seen that the supporting members of the delivery mechanism which engage the targets are operated independently of each other and by independent .means. Under certain conditions should any breakage of parts occur, whereby the detent member might be disabled temporarily, the supporting-dogs 48 would still be adapted for proper operation. In other words, the parts 50 and 48 are not dependent upon the same actuating means in their operation.

A modified form of the apparatus, such as is shown in Fig. 9, illustrates a somewhat different operation of the throwing-arm, same, however, being substantially that before described. The throwing-arm 11, however, is not adapted for complete revolution, being designed to rotate only about three-quarters of a revolution, after which it is returned to its normal position adjacent the target-supplying magazine. The throwing-arm is held in its normal position beneath the magazine by latch means of the same type used in the preferred form of the apparatus, the movable buffer being dispensed with, however, and a rigid stop substituted therefor, said stop limiti which is secured by a left-hand thread the 59, the cam-collar l3 resting upon the shoul- 1 dered portion. The pivot 12 passes through the sleeve 25, as will be readily noted. The operating-cord 30 is connected in a somewhat different manner in the modified apparatus, said cord passing about a pulley 60, which is disposed upon the extension 47 of the supporting-arm and also about a pulley 61, located at the other end of the apparatus in some convenient position. The spring 32 is utilized in the same manner as before, and the operating-lever 31 is connected to the operatingcord in any suitable manner. The spring 32 is connected to a pivoted arm 62, said arm being secured to the pivoted end of the throwing-arm. The pivoted arm 62 is very advantageously used, since it readily permits the three-quarter revolution of the throwing-arm when it is desired to discharge a target on the left quarter,the said arm constituting virtually a loose connection between the throwing-arm and the spring, such arrangement preventing retarding of the movement of the arm by the spring. The operating-cord 30, which is connected at one end through the medium of the spring 32 to the pivoted member 62, has the opposite end thereof passed about the pulleys 61 and 60 and secured to the sleeve 25. A spring 63 is interposed in the length of the operating-cord 30 between the pulleys 61 and 60, said spring being used to take up the slackin the operating-cord caused by operation of the lever 31 to increase the tension of the spring 32 preparatory to discharge of a target.

In operating the modified form of the apparatus the lever 31 is first moved in the direction indicated by the arrow (0, this increasing the tension of the spring 32, and the latch 33 is tripped by the button 35 at an ascertained point, at which time the throwing-arm by a rotary movement discharges the target. To restore the throwing-arm to its normal position adjacent the magazine, the lever 31 is moved in the reverse direction, (indicated by the arrow 7),) and the operating-cord by its connection with the sleeve 25 causes a reverse movement of the throwing-arm. The initial movement of the lever 31 to increase the tension of the spring 32 causes a certain amount of slack in the operating-cord, which is taken up by the spring 63. The operating-cord being connected to the sleeve 25 is entirely out of the path of the throwing-arm, and therefore does not impede the movement of such arm in any manner.

- The operation of the target-releasing devicenamely, supporting-dogs and detent meansis the same in the modified form of the apparatus as in the preferred form.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a throwing-arm, a target-retaining frame disposed upon said arm and provided with upper and lower target-holders open at their outer ends, the upper targetholder being provided with an entrance-opening leading from the upper side of the frame, the lower target-holder being provided with an entrance leading from the rear end thereof.

2. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a throwing-arm, a magazine, detent means carried by the magazine and engaging the uppermost targets therein, supporting members arranged upon the magazine to engage and deliver atarget to the throwing-arm, means for operating the supporting members, and other means for operating the detent means independently of the supporting members.

3. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a throwing-arm, detent means for holding the throwing-arm in a predetermined position, a magazine, delivery mechanism carried by the magazine, and means for simultaneous operation of the detent means and the delivery mechanism to release the throwing-arm and cause delivery movement of the targets in the magazine.

4:. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with apivoted throwing-arm, a hold er carried by the said arm, an actuator for operating the throwing-arm to cause the discharge of a target, retainer means carried by the throwing-arm to hold the target within the holder, a magazine for supplying targets to the holder, supporting-dogs carried by the magazine to normally prevent feeding of the targets, means carried by the throwing-arm for actuation of the supporting-dogs of the magazine to effect a delivery of atarget, and independently-operating detent means supporting the targets in the magazine during the delivery of a target to the holder upon the throwing-arm.

5. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, a target-holder providedthereon, means for actuating the throwing-arm, a magazine for supplying targets to the holder, supporting-dogs disposed upon the magazine operable by the throwing-arm to thereby effect the delivery of a target to the holder, and detent means for supporting the targets during the delivery of a target to the holder upon the throwingarm, the said detent means being operable by the main actuating means of the apparatus to place a target upon the supportingdogs preparatory to its delivery to theholder upon the throwing-arm.

6. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm provided with a holder to receive atarget, a magazine, means for feeding targets to the holder, spring means actuating the throwing-arm, means for normally holding the throwing-arm adjacent the magazine, an actuator cooperating with the spring means aforesaid to effect release of the throwing-arm, and target-delivery means simultaneously operable by the actuator in its discharge movement.

7. In atarget-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm provided with a target-holder, retainer means carried by the said arm for preventing discharge of the target until the throwing-arm reaches a predetermined point in its discharge movement, a magazine for supplying targets to the holder on the throwing-arm, supporting-dogs disposed upon the magazine for holding a target preparatory to its delivery to the holder on the throwing-arm, independent detent means carried by the magazine for supporting the targets during the delivery of a target from the supporting-dogs to the holder, means for normally holding the throwing-arm in a position adjacent the supplying-magazine, spring means for causing actuation of the throwing-arm to effect a discharge of a target and an actuator cooperating with the spring means aforesaid to increase the tension thereof preparatory to discharge of the target and cooperating with the means for holding the throwing-arm in its normal position to effect a disengagement of the latch from the throwing-arm to cause actuation of v the throwing-arm in discharging the target, the final movement of the actuating-cord causing operation of the detent means upon the magazine and disposing a target upon the pivoted dogs of the magazine preparatory to delivery to the holder upon the throwing-arm.

8. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, targetholders carried by the said arm, engaging.

dogs of different sizes adjacent the respective holders for preventing discharge of the targets from the holder until the throwing-arm reaches a predetermined point in its movement, and means for actuating said engaging dogs.

9. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, means for actuating said arm, a buffer disposed adjacent the arm and normally out of the path of movement thereof, and means for throwing the buffer into the path of movement of the throwing-arm.

10. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, a buf fer for limiting the movement of said arm, means for holding the said arm in its normal position, and connecting means between the buffer and the means holding the arm in its normal position to cause actuation of the said buffer.

11. In a target-throwingapparatus,the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, means for actuating said arm, a buffer for limiting the movement of the throwing-arm, and means for throwing the buffer into and out of the path of movement of the throwing-arm.

12. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, latch means holdingsaid arm in its normal position. a buffer, and means connecting the latch and the buffer to effect simultaneous operation thereof. a

13. In a target-throwing apparatus,the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, latch means holding said arm in its normal position, a spring-bufier, and a pin-and-slot connection between the latch and buffer whereby the buffer is actuated when the latch reaches a predetermined point in its movement.

14. In a target-throwing apparatus, the combination with a pivoted throwing-arm, latch means, a spring-bufier, a link connecting the latch and the spring-buffer, and a pin-and-slot connection between the link and the buffer whereby said buffer is actuated when the latch reaches an ascertained pointin its movement.

15. In a target-throwing apparatus, the com-- means for putting said spring under tension, and means for releasing said throw-arm, substantially as set forth. 1

17 In a target-trap, the combination of a throw-arm support, a throw-arm rotatably mounted on said support, a pivot member by which said throw-arm is carried, means for holding said throw-arm in a fixed position, an actuating member having means for detachable engagement with said throw-arm pivot member, a power-spring having connection with said actuating member, means for putting said spring'under tension, and means for releasing said throwarm, substantially as set forth.

18. In a target-trap, the combination of a throw-arm support, a throw-arm rotatably mounted on said support, a pivot member by which said throw-arm is carried, an actuating member adjacent to said pivot member, a dog carried by said actuating member and arranged to engage said pivot member, a powerspring connected to said actuating member, means for putting said spring under tension, and means for releasing said throw-arm, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofIafiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK HARDY. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

J. T. JENKINS, J. M. GEANBERGH. 

